Once you have money in all of the above places, you can now consider other investment options such as individual stocks, real estate, or even adding more to your emergency fund. A common mistake many people make is putting their money into stocks even when they have no money in any of the above areas. Sure, some people can have success with this but most people doní»t. Be smart and protect yourself from unexpected situations first (emergency fund) followed by protecting your financial future (retirement funds).